Repairs You Could Face in Your Hire Car and How to Resolve Them.

Hiring a car on your holiday enables you to explore everything your destination has to offer without any restrictions. You don’t have to rely on public transport or pay taxi fares. Although most car hire periods run smoothly, there may come the occasion when you need assistance for hire car repairs.

We discuss common hire car repairs and damages below, and how you can resolve them. In certain cases, you may be able to reclaim charges on the additional top-up insurance. Make sure you take this policy out before your rental commences.

Remember: It is not possible to take out our additional insurance cover on a rental that has already started.

Photo by: Rostislav Sedlacek/Adobe Stock

Upon collection

Always make sure you dedicate appropriate time to surveying the vehicle for any pre-existing damage or issues that the supplier may need to resolve. Check both the interior and exterior so you avoid charges for damages that a previous hirer has caused. Making this time now can save a headache later. It can be more difficult to resolve a problem further into the rental.

If the windscreen is dirty on the inside, then ask the supplier to clean it. Don’t drive around all holiday being unable to see clearly. Check the lights to ensure they work. Request a lightbulb change if they don’t. Familiarise yourself with all the controls before driving away. Ask for a demonstration or instructions if needed.

Should you be unsure of anything, ask the supplier or give Zest a call before you head off. If you find the overall condition of the vehicle unsatisfactory and it concerns you, call us and we can liaise with the supplier to arrange an alternative.

On-rental issues

For any issues that occur with the vehicle on-rental, you should always contact the supplier for advice. You can find their telephone number on your rental agreement. They may advise you to return to the vehicle to them, if feasible, or to seek repairs yourself.

Top tip: It can be worthwhile to save the telephone numbers for Zest and the supplier in your mobile phone.

For certain repairs, perhaps caused by general wear and tear of the vehicle, the supplier will reimburse you. This can include replacement wiper blades, blown bulbs, flat battery (if not caused by negligence) or an oil top-up.

If the damage is caused because of an accident you must pay for the repair costs. This includes flat tyres, broken lights, damaged wing mirrors, and chipped or cracked windscreens. Should you have our recommended top-up insurance in place, you can reclaim these costs post-rental if the damage was not caused because of negligence. Misfuelling is also covered by top-up insurance.

Remember: Make sure you keep receipts and proofs of purchase!

In Italy, it’s a legal requirement to always keep the vehicle’s registration documents within the vehicle. Should you lose or damage these, the supplier will charge you for the cost of getting a replacement. This cost isn’t covered by top-up insurance. Check our travel guide for your destination to be aware of what other equipment must be kept inside your vehicle.

Should a dashboard warning light come on, phone the supplier for advice. Never make changes to the vehicle without advice from the supplier first.

If you lose the keys to the vehicle or lock yourself out, you must pay for necessary repairs and replacements. You can claim this back on the top-up insurance if it’s in place.

Top tip: If your hire vehicle is involved in an accident, phone the supplier for advice and then phone us to ensure we’re aware of the situation.

Document any damage to the car with photos. Photo by: Kwangmoo/Adobe Stock

Equipment loss or damage

You may wish to rent extra equipment during your rental period such as a Sat Nav or a child seat. Should you lose or damage these, you must pay for a replacement. This equipment is not covered by top-up insurance.

Damage to the interior of the vehicle, such as tears to seat covers or scratches to the dashboard, will result in repair charges. Damaging or returning the vehicle without its parcel shelf will mean you’ll be charged by the supplier for the cost of a replacement. You can claim this back on top-up insurance. If you stain the interior of the car or leave any marks on the upholstery, the supplier will charge you for cleaning costs. These charges won’t be covered by top-up insurance.

Insurance

All bookings through Zest include full Collision Damage and Theft Waiver (CDW) with either no insurance excess or Excess Reimbursement Insurance (ERI). This insurance will cover damage to the hire vehicle caused by a collision or theft. There are exclusions to the CDW so check the cover during the booking process.

We offer an additional top-up insurance policy which covers certain accidental damage to the vehicle that CDW excludes. As you’ll see from above, there are extras and damage that the additional policy won’t cover. It’s worth taking out the extra insurance to cover you as much as possible, but be aware of the extent of this cover and what loss or damage you can’t claim for. Take suitable precautions to prevent this.

If you’re taking out an additional policy from elsewhere, take the time to read the terms and conditions so you know what the policy covers, and what it doesn’t.

Contact Zest for support when you face hire car repairs

Remember that Zest operates full 24/7 emergency support should you need it. It can be difficult to work to resolve certain issues post-rental so don’t hesitate to contact us at the time. We can then help to ensure the rest of your rental runs as smoothly as possible.

Remember: You should always conduct a full survey of the whole vehicle before driving away from the supplier. You can take photos as evidence if necessary. This will help you avoid charges for damages or repairs resulting from a previous hire.

Written by Jessica Juby.

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